Connacht

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Connacht scrum-half Matthew Devine will make the switch to Ulster at the end of the current season.

The 23-year-old will arrive on a one-year contract and reunites with Ulster head coach Richie Murphy who he played under when Ireland U20s won the 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam

Devine, who also worked with Ulster assistant coach Mark Sexton during his spell with the western province, has scored three tries this season for Connacht after graduating from the province's academy system.

"I'm delighted to sign with Ulster Rugby and can't wait to make the move up north," Devine said.

"It's a brilliant opportunity for me to join a team who are making great strides forward and playing some of the most exciting, attacking rugby in the URC.

"Having worked with the coaching staff before with the U20s, I have a great relationship with them, and I feel their style suits my game. I'm looking forward to meeting my new teammates and the Ulster supporters."

Devine will bolster Murphy's options at scrum-half with Ulster Rugby general manager Rory Best delighted to secure the services of the Ballinasloe native.

"We feel we have secured one of the most talented young scrum-halves in Ireland, who has a strong desire to kick on in his career and develop with his high potential,"Best said.

"He will add strong competition to our scrum half positions moving forward."

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All Black Reiko Ioane returns to start in a much-changed Leinster side for their United Rugby Championship game against Edinburgh at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Leo Cullen is without a host of Ireland internationals and makes 12 changes in total to the side that beat Connacht last weekend, a result that moved them up to third in the URC table.

Only Joshua Kenny, RG Snyman and Charlie Tector retain their places, with Tector switching to fly-half as Luke McGrath comes in to captain the side from scrum-half.

Ciaran Mangan and Andrew Sparrow will make their first starts for Leinster while Ruben Moloney, John McKee and Jerry Cahir come into the side.

Brian Deeny, Max Deegan, Scott Penny and Diarmuid Mangan are also included as Niall Smyth, Gus McCarthy, Will Connors and Fintan Gunne all drop to the bench.

Leinster: A Osborne; J Kenny, R Ioane, C Mangan, R Moloney; C Tector, L McGrath (capt); J Cahir, J McKee, A Sparrow; RG Snyman, B Deeney; M Deegan, S Penny, D Mangan.

Replacements: G McCarthy, A Usanov, N Smyth, C O'Tighearnaigh, J Eriscon, W Connors, F Gunne, H McLaughlin.

Five switches for Connacht for Zebre game

Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster has made five changes for their trip to Parma take on Zebre on Saturday.

Darragh Murray, Billy Bohan, and captain Cian Prendergast, who started in last week's defeat to Leinster, all miss out with the latter pair away with Ireland at their Six Nations training camp in Portugal.

They are replaced by Niall Murray, Jordan Duggan and Sean O'Brien.

Jack Aungier comes in for the injured Sam Illo at tight-head prop while Chay Mullins starts in place of Finn Treacy on the left wing.

Oisin McCormack is amongst the replacements as he is named in the matchday squad for the first time this season.

Bundee Aki is not in the squad as he begins a four-game ban for "verbal abuse and disrespect" towards match official.

Connacht: S Gilbert; S Jennings; H West, C Forde; C Mullins, J Ioane; C Blade; J Duggan, D Tierney-Martin, J Aungier; J Murphy, J Joyce; P Boyle, S O'Brien, S Jansen.

Replacements: M Victory, P Dooley, F Barrett, D O'Connor, N Murray, B Murphy, S Naughton, O McCormack.

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Leinster flanker Will Connors will join Connacht on a two-year deal next summer, the provinces have confirmed.

The 29-year-old has won 62 caps for Leinster having made his debut in February 2018 and started the 2024 Investec Champions Cup final loss to Toulouse.

He has nine caps for Ireland, the last of which came in the 2021 Six Nations.

Connors is the second Ireland international to swap Leinster for Connacht in recent weeks after the western province confirmed a deal to bring Ciaran Frawley in ahead of the 2026-27 season.

"I've had a fantastic nine seasons with Leinster, and am very grateful for all that was achieved in that time," said Connors.

"I look forward to finishing the season strongly before making the move West in the summer and joining up with a really exciting and talented group.

"After chatting to Stuart and the team, it's clear there's enormous ambition in the club to be successful in the years ahead."

Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster said Connors will be a "big asset" having previously worked with him at Leinster.

"His tackling ability and defensive work rate is well known, but he has real attacking strengths too which I am looking forward to developing," said Lancaster.

"He also has a positive personality who brings great energy to the group and real potential as a leader."

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Cian Prendergast will captain a Connacht side which shows three changes to their starting team from that which beat Montauban in the Challenge Cup last week for Saturday's United Rugby Championship clash with a Leinster at a sold-out Dexcom Stadium (17:30 GMT).

There are two changes in the half-backs as fit-again Caolin Blade links up with Josh Ioane at nine and 10, while Dylan Tierney-Martin comes in at hooker following Dave Heffernan's injury.

Cian Prendergast captains the side from blindside flanker in a strong back row with Paul Boyle and Sean Jansen. Josh Murphy and Darragh Murray continue in the second row, while Academy prop Billy Bohan starts in a front row with Dylan Tierney-Martin and Sam Illo.

Forde and West keep their places in midfield after impressive Challenge Cup outings, with Treacy, Jennings and Gilbert making up the back three. Buckley, Carty and Aki add experience from the bench.

Connacht currently sit 12th in the URC table and have lost their last three league outings.

Connacht: S Gilbert; S Jennings; H West, C Forde; F Treacy, J Ioane; C Blade; B Bohan, D Tierney-Martin, S Illo; J Murphy, D Murray; C Prendergast (capt), P Boyle, S Jansen.

Replacements: E de Buitléar, D Buckley, J Aungier, Joe Joyce, S O'Brien, B Murphy, J Carty, B Aki.

Doris set to captain Leinster on his 100th appearence

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Caelan Doris will captain Leinster as he is set to make his 100th appearence in blue during Saturday's visit to Connacht.

Niall Smyth is set to make his debut for the province and will be joined in the front row by Gus McCarthy and Jack Boyle.

James Lowe returns for his first appearance since last month's win over Munster and lines out on the wing, one try shy of equalling Shane Horgan's Leinster record of 69, with Joshua Kenny on the opposite flank and Ciaran Frawley named at full-back.

South African RG Snyman and James Ryan combine in the second row, with centurion Caelan Doris joined by Will Connors and Alex Soroka.

Harry Byrne and Fintan Gunne start in the half-backs, with Charlie Tector partnering Garry Ringrose in midfield.

Leinster sit fifth in the URC table, Leo Cullen's side have won nine games in a row in all competitions, their last defeat coming against Munster in October last year.

Leinster: C Frawley; J Kenny, G Ringrose, C Tector, J Lowe; H Byrne, F Gunne; J Boyle, G McCarthy, N Smyth; RG Snyman, J Ryan; A Soroka, W Connors, C Doris (capt).

Replacements: R Kelleher, J Cahir, A Sparrow, B Deeny, D Mangan, S Penny, L McGrath, R Moloney.

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Ulster's European Challenge Cup last-16 tie against Ospreys at the Affidea Stadium in Belfast is to take place on Saturday 4 April, with a 20:00 BST kick-off.

Munster will travel to face Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park in the same competition on the same day, with that match starting at 12:30.

In the last 16 of the Champions Cup, Leinster, the sole remaining Irish province, will be at home to Edinburgh on Sunday 5 April at 17:30.

Connacht will host the Sharks on Friday 3 April in the Challenge Cup, that game starting at 20:00.

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Ulster's Zac Ward is one of eight Ulster players names in Cullie Tucker's Ireland XV squad that will face England 'A' at Thomond Park on Friday, 6 February (19.15 GMT).

Ward, who featured in the Ireland XV against Spain in November, missed out on a place in Andy Farrell's 37-man squad for the Six Nations, but the winger will have the chance to impress in Limerick after a good run of form on the wing for his province.

Joining Ward in the 27-man squad are fellow Ulster backs Jack Murphy, Jude Postlethwaite and the three-time capped James Hume.

In the forwards, Ulster are represented by Sam Crean, Charlie Irvine, Scott Wilson and the in-form Bryn Ward - younger sibling of Zac - who picked up back-to-back man-of-the-match awards in the northern province's recent on-field wins against Munster and Stade Francais.

Leinster's four-time capped back row Max Deegan has been names as captain, with further capped Test internationals selected in the forwards including Leinster's Gus McCarthy, Munster's Oli Jager and Connacht duo Paul Boyle and Darragh Murphy.

Munster's Shane Daly and Connacht's Ben Murphy provide further Test match experience in the backs.

Ireland XV squad

Forwards (16): Diarmuid Barron (Munster), Billy Bohan (Connacht), Paul Boyle (Connacht), Sam Crean (Ulster), Max Deegan (Leinster, captain), Brian Gleeson (Munster), Sam Illo (Connacht), Charlie Irvine (Ulster), Oli Jager (Munster), Sean Jansen (Connacht), Diarmuid Mangan (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Darragh Murray (Connacht), Stephen Smyth (Leinster), Bryn Ward (Ulster), Scott Wilson (Ulster)

Backs (11): Shane Daly (Munster), Matthew Devine (Connacht), Cathal Forde (Connacht), Fintan Gunne (Leinster), James Hume (Ulster), Dan Kelly (Munster), Joshua Kenny (Leinster), Ben Murphy (Connacht), Jack Murphy (Ulster), Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), Zac Ward (Ulster).

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Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey's shoulder injury will be assessed ahead of Munster's Investec Champions Cup game with Castres.

Casey, 26, was forced off in the second half of the defeat by Toulon on Sunday and head coach Clayton McMillan said post-match that the injury looked "reasonably serious".

However, the injury does not appear to be as bad as first feared and he could feature in Munster's final pool match in Limerick on Saturday (17:30 GMT).

Ireland's Six Nations campaign begins in France on 5 February and the news will be welcome to head coach Andy Farrell after Casey had established himself as deputy to Jamison Gibson-Park.

Meanwhile, Connacht prop Finlay Bealham is expected to be unavailable for "a couple of weeks" after he injured his knee in the United Rugby Championship defeat by Leinster.

There is also concern for Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy, who sustained a "significant foot injury" in the dramatic European win over La Rochelle, and Andrew Porter will be assessed for an ongoing calf concern.

There is better news as prop Tadhg Furlong is set to return in Leinster's final pool match in Bayonne on Saturday (15:15 GMT), and backs Garry Ringrose and Jimmy O'Brien will be available while full-back Hugo Keenan has returned to training but will not play in France.

Versatile back Ciaran Frawley was also forced off in the win over La Rochelle with a foot injury and he will be assessed ahead of the game in Bayonne.

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Leinster have made nine changes to their starting team from Saturday's United Rugby Championship win over Munster for the interpro against Connacht at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (17:30 GMT).

Backs Hugh Cooney, Charlie Tector and Joshua Kenny are drafted in, along with fly-half Sam Prendergast.

Among the forwards, Dan Sheehan is back in to captain the team, Brian Deeny partners Joe McCarthy in the second row and there is an entirely new back row in the form of Diarmuid Mangan, Will Connors and Jack Conan.

Connors returns to the team for the first time since October.

Among those making way are Ireland internationals Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Ronan Kelleher and James Ryan, with Max Deegan and Josh van der Flier among the replacements.

Connacht make five changes from the side which lost 29-24 to Ulster last Saturday.

Dave Heffernan and Jack Carty miss out through injury, so Dylan Tierney-Martin starts at hooker and Josh Ioane comes in at fly-half to form a new half-back partnership with Matthew Devine.

David Henshaw is drafted in at outside centre, while Chay Mullins plays on the right wing after returning to full fitness.

Leinster have won six matches in a row, four of those having come in the United Rugby Championship, while Connacht have lost five of their past six URC outings.

Leo Cullen's side sit sixth in the table going into the weekend's action, with Connacht four places worse off in 10th.

Leinster: Frawley;O'Brien, Cooney, Tector, Kenny; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan (capt), Clarkson; McCarthy, Deeny; Mangan, Connors, Conan.

Replacements: McCarthy, Boyle, Slimani, O'Tighearnaigh, Deegan, van der Flier, McGrath, Byrne.

Connacht: Gilbert; Mullins, Hawkshaw, Aki, Treacy; Ioane, Devine; Buckley, Tierney-Martin, Bealham; Joyce, O'Connor; Murphy, Prendergast, Jansen.

Replacements: de Buitlear, Bohan, Barrett, Murray, Boyle, Murphy, West, Forde.

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Ireland utility back Ciaran Frawley will join Connacht from Leinster in a two-year deal next summer, the provinces have confirmed.

Frawley has made over 100 appearances for Leinster since making his debut in February 2018, helping the club win five Pro12/United Rugby Championship titles.

The 28-year-old, who can play at fly-half, centre or full-back, has won nine Ireland caps and memorably nailed two late drop-goals to help seal a dramatic Test victory over South Africa in Durban in 2024.

"I'm really excited to have the opportunity to represent Connacht on and off the field from next season. On my visits to the province with Leinster I've always been struck by the passion of the supporters there, and the positive brand of rugby the team play."

He added: "I've loved my time at Leinster and I'm really appreciative for all the support from the fans, coaches and teammates over the last seven years.

"There's still a lot of work to do and I'm looking forward to finishing the season strongly before the move to Galway in the summer."

Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster described Frawley's capture as a "real statement of intent".

"I know him well from my time in Leinster and I saw him grow from an academy prospect into a key member of the senior squad and play for Ireland also," said Lancaster.

"He's still only 28 so I firmly believe his best days are still ahead of him, and I'm delighted that the club have been able to secure a player of his calibre.

"He will be a big asset in the years ahead and personally I am really excited about working with him again."